eHealth: South African ConnectMed has expanded to Kenya

South African e-health startup ConnectMed has expanded to Kenya, with the company to roll out physical stations with connected devices across the country to enable access anyone wishing to contact a medical professional.

ConnectMed allows patients to access consultations with medical professionals via video link. Licenced practitioners are available for same-day consultations, and can provide prescriptions, sick-notes, and referrals. For doctors, the service allows them more flexibility and control over their work hours.

Launched in South Africa, ConnectMed is now in the process of expanding to Kenya, where it says it expects significant traction, particularly in Nairobi due to traffic constraints, and in rural areas.

Early trials have seen Kenyans sign up their elderly parents to the service so they don’t need to travel to medical clinics; while university students have also been adopting the solution to seek sexual health and mental health advice.

“Healthcare in Kenya is both scarce given too few doctors, as well as inaccessible due to cost, location, and limited available hours. We started ConnectMed to help solve these challenges and make healthcare delivery truly scalable,” said ConnectMed chief medical officer Dr Fibian Nyorita.

“Our doctors are passionate about harnessing technology to increase access to healthcare. They’ve all gone through an extensive training process and received their degrees from top Kenyan medical schools.”

To make access to the service available for all, ConnectMed will roll out physical stations with computers in locations such as pharmacies and cyber cafes, so anyone can access a connected device and contact ConnectMed’s doctors.

The first consultation is offered for free, whereafter a consultation costs KES1,200 (US$11.6).

Disrupt Africa reported ConnectMed was one of the five winners of last year’s DEMO Africa startup pitching event; and last month took part in the Lions@frica Innovation Tour in Silicon Valley, where they were able to connect with the local ecosystem and pitch to investors.

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